Refrigerator mechanism



March 15, 1938. Q SPREEN 2,111,411

REFRIGERATOR MECHANI SM Filed March 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

' A ORNEY.

March 15, 1938. c C SPREEN 2,111,411

REFRIGERATOR MECHANISM Filed March 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE of one-half to Leo Siegel, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 22, 1935, Serial No. 12,443

18 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of shelves in refrigerator mechanisms; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide a refrigerator mechanism having a greater and easier accessibility to shelves mounted in the refrigerated space of the refrigeratoi' mechanisms or units; second, to provide a refrigerator mechanism having shelves which may be exposed on three sides during the operation of placing articles thereon or removal of the articles therefrom; third,. to provide a refriger: ator mechanism having shelves which permit the placement or removal of articles thereon at the rear portions of the refrigerated space without' movement and consequent damage to the articles which are being supported on the shelves at the front portions of the refrigerated space; fourth, to provide a refrigerator mechanism having swinging shelves; fifth, to provide a refrigerator mechanism with movably mounted shelves which are actuated in their movement by the operation of a door of the refrigerator mechanism; sixth, to provide a refrigerator mechanism having a door provided with shelves supported thereon and adapted to move therewith, seventh, to provide a refrigerator mechanism having swinging shelves with means for optionally controlling the shelves to swing or to remain stationary; eighth, to provide a refrigerator mechanism having swinging shelves with resiliently actuated means tending to maintain the shelves in stationary positions until a pre-determined force is exerted to move the shelves in their swinging movement; ninth, to provide a refrigerator mechanism having a plurality of shelves mounted on a common pivotal support mechanism adapted to be actuated by the door of the refrigerator mechanism; and tenth, to provide a refrigerator mechanism having swinging shelves with positioning mechanism to position the shelves at one end of their swinging movement.

I attain these objects by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

whichclosed in Fig. 1 and with the swinging shelves having been moved or swung outwardly with the movement of the door to its open position; Fig. 3, a horizontal sectional view of the refrigerator mechanism, said horizontal sectional view being taken on a horizontal plane which is indicated by the line 3-3, Fig. 2, said view disclosing the door in a closed position, said view further indicating, by dotted lines, the door and swinging shelves when in an open or outward position; Fig. 4, a partial side view of the supporting mechanism for the swinging shelves; Fig. 5, a partial side view of the lower portions of the supporting mechanism for the swinging shelves to more fully disclose the positioning mechanism, said partial side view being drawn to a larger scale than that of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a sectional view of the positioning mechanism disclosed in Fig. 4, said sectional View being taken on the line 66, Fig. Fig. 7, a. front elevation of the mechanism for locking the swinging shelves to the door, the lever member thereof being disclosed in its position when not engaging the swinging shelves; Fig. 8, a side view of the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 7; and Fig. 9, a partial sectional view of one of the shelves which is engaged by the lever member for locking the swinging shelf mechanism to the door.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Figure 1 the refrigerator mechanism or cabinet assembly A is provided with the mechanical refrigerated space, chamber or compartment l which is enclosed by the insulated wall portions 2 in which is mounted a conventional evaporator unit 3 provided with the ice trays 4, together with the thermostatic control mechanism 5, a lighting mechanism 6 for providing light in the refrigerated space, chamber or compartment I, the refrigerator mechanism assembly A being further provided with the tray 1 which is properly positioned for and adapted to catch any drip from the evaporator mechanism 3 or for storage purposes. The refrigerator mechanism assembly A is provided with the door 8 which may be insulated in a similar manner to that of the wall portions 2, the door 8 being provided with the flange portion 9 together with the gasket member In, as disclosed in Fig. 3 and which may be suitably attached to the flange 9 of the door 8 so that the gasket member I0 is compressed against the outer surface of the wall portions of the refrigerator mechanism assembly A to seal the refrigerated space, chamber or compartment I when the door is in its closed position, as disclosed in Fig.- 3, the wall portions 2 being provided with the opening II for receiving thereinto the door 8 in its closed position.

The conventional refrigerator mechanism assembly, similar to that indicated at A, is conventionally provided with a plurality of shelves which extend substantially for the full depth of the refrigerator mechanism assemblyi ithat is from points adjacent the inside surface of the door 8 to points substantially adjacent the rear wall portion 2, and it is a well-known fact that such shelf constructions have the disadvantages of having a substantially deep construction so that when the user desires to place or remove articles to and from the rear or back areas of the shelf mechanism, the users will usually have to remove the articles at the front of the refrigerated space, chamber or compartment I before the articles at the rear of such shelf construction can be removed, and if this is not done there is a tendency of the user to dislocate, tip over or damage any of the articles supported on the front portions of the supporting areas of the shelf mechanism, and it is very diflioult to avoid these disadvantages unless the articles supported at the front of the shelf mechanism are not first removed to provide access to the rear areas of the shelf mechanism, which are usually located deep within the refrigerated compartment, chamber or space I. In order to overcome this disadvantage and to provide access and greater ease of operation in replacing or removing articles on all areas of the shelf mechanism, I provide the refrigerator mechanism assembly A with the fixed shelves I2, I3, I4, I5, and I8. The shelves I2, I3, I4, I5 and I6 have a depth of substantially only one-half of the total depth of the refrigerated space, chamber or compartment I from its front or open side to its rear wall surface. Although I term said members I2, I9, I4, I5 and I6 as fixed shelves they can be removed, as desired, when constructed to be removably supported on clips, brackets or support members such as H which are suitably secured to the wall surfaces of the refrigerated space, chamber or compartment I, the shelves I2, I3, I4, I5 and I8, however, being fixedly supported so that they do not have any movement when being utilized as supporting units such as the swinging shelf construction which is hereinafter described.

The shelves I4 and I5 may extend for the full width of the refrigerated space, chamber or compartment I whereas the shelves I2 and I3 may extend from one side wall of the refrigerated space, chamber or compartment I to substantially the side of the evaporator mechanism 3. Also the shelf I4 may have its portion I8, as disclosed at the left hand side of the refrigerated space, chamber or compartment I, of substantially the full depth of the refrigerator space, chamber or compartment I to provide proper support for the tray or pan I which also may have a length sufficient to extend substantially from the inside surface of the door 8 to the rear wall portion of the refrigerated space, chamber or compartment I. Thus the shelf I4 will have one of its corner portions cut away as at I9 to provide room for one of the swinging shelves hereinafter described.

It is now to be noted that the shelves 20, 2I, 22 and 23 are adapted for swinging or pivotal movement about the axis of the shaft or supporting member 24 and may be actuated in their swinging or pivotal movement automatically by and in association with the door 8 or they may be optionally and manually actuated when in their swinging or pivotal movement by the user of the refrigerator mechanism assembly A without any movement of the door 8, as desired.

The shelves 20, 2I, 22 and 23 are suitably secured to the shaft 24 as by welding, soldering or similar means, such shelves being disclosed as having the corner of the wire of the rod members 25, forming the outer frame member of the shelves, secured to the shaft 24 by welding, the weld material forming the collar or shoulder portion 26 on the shaft 24 for supporting and securing said shelves to the shaft 24. The shaft 24 is provided with the collar, washer or shoulder member 2! which is secured to the shaft 24 by the pin 28, or by integral construction with the shaft 24, the collar 21 being adapted to rest upon and engage the upper surface 28A of the boss 29 of the lower bracket 38 which is provided with the flanged portions 3| for attachment to the inside wall portion 32 of the wall portions 2 in the refrigerator mechanism assembly A. The boss 29 is provided with the bore 33 which forms a bearing for the lower end of the shaft 24, the upper bracket 34 being provided with the bore 35 which forms a bearing for the upper end of the shaft 24, the bracket 34 being provided with the flanges 3I similar to the bracket 30, the flanges 3I with the brackets 30 and 34 being secured to the inside wall portion 32 by the bolts or similar fastening means 36. The lower bracket 38 is provided with the notches or grooves 31 which are adapted for engagement by the lugs or extension portions 38 on the collar 39 which is slidably mounted on the shaft 24 and is provided with a key portion 40 which engages the key-way H of the shaft 24 to permit the collar 33 to slidably move longitudinally of the shaft 24 and at the same time prevents the collar 39 from moving about the axis of the shaft 24. The spring or resilient member 42 is adapted to always urge the collar 39 towards the boss 29 to cause the lug 38 to always engage the notch or groove 31 when in alignment therewith, the thrust of the spring 42 being absorbed by the collar 43 which is backed up by the nut 44 which threadably engages the lower end of the shaft 24.

It is thus to be noted that the shaft 24 and supporting shelves thereon will be positioned substantially as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 3 when the lug 38 engages the notch 31 of the boss 29, thus forming positioning mechanism by means of which the shelves 20, 2I, 22 and 23 will be always positively positioned or located at one end of their swinging movements, thus insuring that the shelves 20, 2|, 22 and 23 will be properly positioned relative to the shelves I2, I3, I4, I5 and I6 so that articles may be placed at the same level on adjacent shelves and where desired large articles may be supported on adjacent pairs of shelves when the shelves 28, 2I, 22 and 23 are desired to be fixed in their stationary position without swinging movement.

It is to be noted that the shelves 28 and 2I will be adapted for a swinging movement to positions respectively adjacent the fixed shelves I2 and I3. Also the shelf 22 is adapted to be swung or pivotally moved in conjunction with the movement of the other shelves with which it is associated with in a swinging movement to a position as indicated in Fig. l where the shelf 22 will fit into the open or corner space I9 relative to the fixed shelf I4.

Also the shelf 23 will be adapted by its swinging movement in association with the remainder of the swinging shelves to be moved to a position adjacent the shelf I5, the shelf 23 extending substantially for the full width of the refrigerated space, chamber or compartment I, adjacent the front side of the fixed shelf I5.

It is to be noted that when the door 8 is in a closed position, as disclosed in Fig. 3, the lever "2,111,411 member 5| will be positioned to one end or at the right of the opening 41 and when the door 8 has been opened to the position as'indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, the latch member 5| will have moved along the opening 41 to the position as indicated by the dotted lines 13 in Fig. 3.

It is to be noted that the swinging shelves 20, 2|, 22 and 23 will be constructed with their frame member 25 formed'to provide a curvedor radial shape at their outer ends 44 to provide clearance between the curved or radial ends 44 and the inner edge of the opening II and theevaporator unit 3 when the shelves 20, 2|, 22 and 23 are swung outwardly in association with the movement of the door 8 to positions outside of the refrigerator mechanism assembly A, as disclosed in Fig. 2. The curved or irregular portions 44 are located relative to the axis of the shaft 24 to provide the proper operating clearance relative to the edges of the opening II and the evaporator unit 3.

It is now to be noted that the shelves 20, 2|, 22 and 23 may be swung or pivotally moved together on the shaft 24 about the axis of the shaft 24 outwardly from their positions as disclosed in Fig. l to the positions disclosed in Fig. 2 where they are positioned adjacent the door 8 by manual operation by the user of the refrigerator mechanism assembly A and when said swinging shelves are moved from their positions as disclosed in Fig. 2 to their positions within the refrigerated space, chamber, or compartment l, as disclosed in Fig. 1, the shaft 24 together with its supported shelves is automatically located in their proper positions in the refrigerator mechanism assembly A by means of the positioning mechanism comprising the lug 38 for engaging the notch or groove 31. If the user does not wish to manually swing or pivotally move the shelves 20, 2|, 22 and 23, said shelves may be connected to the door 8 so that said shelves are automatically moved from their positions; as indicated in Fig. l, to substantially the positions as indicated in Fig. 2 in automatic association with the movement of the door 8, the opening or closing of the door 8 automatically moving the shelves 20, 2|, 22 and 23 to and from their positions within the refrigerator space l as indicated in Fig. 1, thus providing greater and easier access not only to the articles which may be supported on the swinging shelves 2!], 2|,22 and 23 but also on the fixed shelves l2, l3, l4 and I5.

It is also to be noted that when the shelves .28, 2| 22 and 23 have been swung or pivotally moved either manually or automatically by the door 8 to the positions as indicated in Fig. 2, that access to the articles on the shelves 20, 2|, 22 and 23 will be provided substantially on three sides of said shelves and when said shelves are manually operated they may be moved to a position intermediate the inner face of the door 8 and the refrigerator space I so that said shelves 26, 2|, 22 and 23 will be substantially accessible from each of their four sides. In order to secure andconnect the shelves 20, 2|, 22 and 23 as a unit assembly to the door 8, the shelf 23 is provided with the opening 41 which is formed by its outer frame member or rod 25 and the member or rod 48 which is suitably secured to and supported by the outer rod or frame member 25, the rod 48 extending substantially parallel to that portion of the outer rod or frame member 25 which extends around the opening 41.

It is to be noted that whereas I have disclosed the various shelves as being rack members, it is understood that they may also be formed as baskets, trays, or pans instead of the shelves, if

desired, or they may be combinations of baskets,

trays, shelves, racks, and pans, as desired, and will be provided, if desired, with upturned edges to prevent articles placed thereon from rolling off or being displaced therefrom.

When the shelves are formed as racks as disclosed, the rod or wire members 49 may extend between and be secured to the outer rod or frame member 25. Also when the shelf member I5 is provided with the opening 41, the wire or rod members 69 may be secured at one end to the outer rod or frame member 25 and at their other ends to the rod or wire member 48 as disclosed.

The opening 41 is adapted to receive the end 50 of the latch 5| which is swivelly or pivotally mounted on the journal portion 52 of the stud member 53 which is secured to the inner wall portion 54 of the door 8 by the nut 55. The latch 5| is provided with the boss 56 having the bore 51 forming a bearing on the journal portion 52, the

portion 55 being further provided with the recess 58 in which is mounted the spring or resilient member 59 which always tends to urge the latch 5| toward the shoulder portion 60 of the stud 53, the inner face of the shoulder portion 68 being provided with notches or positioning portions 6| which are adapted to be engaged by the lugs 62 which are constructed or formed on the inner surface of the boss 55. The spring 59 will have sufficient thrust capacity to support the frictional engagement of the cam-like surface of the end 58 of the latch 5| and the rod or frame member 25 adjacent the opening 41 from moving the latch 5| with its positioning portion when the shelf 23 is moved adjacent and relative to the door 8 during the opening or closing movements of the door 8.

The washer 62A is secured on the stud 53 by the nut 63 to allow for the proper operating clearance between the washer 62A and the outer surface of the boss 55 so that the latch 5| when rotated or pivotally moved on the journal portion 52 may move longitudinally of the stud 53 sufliciently to release the lugs 62 out of the grooves 6|, the spring 59 inmiediately urging the latch 5| back toward the face of the shoulder 60 so that the lugs 62 will engage the grooves 5| immediately to position and locate the lever 5| in either its unlocking or locked position as desired. The lever 5| is provided with the handle portion 64 having the finger or grip portion 65, the handle portion 84 being located substantially 45 from the vertical center through the stud 53 when the end 58 of the latch 5| is moved to a position of disengagement relative to the rod 25 adjacent the opening 41 as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 7. The position of the handle portions 64 thus prevents interference with the shelf 23 and provides greater accessibility for the hand and fingers of the user both in its locking and unlocking positions.

When the latch 5| is pivotally moved on the shoulder portion 68 to the position as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 9, the end 50 of the latch member 5| will have moved into and through the opening 41 of the shelf 23, thus providing for operative ly locking the shelf 23 to the door 8 and insuring that all of the shelves 28, 2|, 22 and 23, together with the shaft 24, will be locked in engagement with the door 8 and thus be constrained to always move therewith as long as the latch 5| is in its locked position.

It is to be understood that the rod or frame member 25 adjacent the opening 41 will be constructed of such size and rigidity to insure locking the shelf 28 and its operatively connected mechanism with the door 8. The rod or frame member 25 adjacent the opening 41 is forced or pressed against the inside surface of the wall portion 84 of the door 8 by the end 58 of the latch II and provides for the easy entrance of the end 58 through the opening 41, the end 58 being further provided, if desired, with the inclined or tapered surface 88 which will provide a cam-like surface for engaging the inner side or surface of the rod or frame member 25 adjacent the opening 41," the latch 5| being so positioned that the camelike surface 88 will exert a compressive force against the rod or frame member 25 to force it against the wall portion 54 and at the same time to provide a quick release of the latch 5I from its locked position when it is desired to disconnect the shelf 28 from the door 8 to permit the user to manually operate the swinging shelves.

It is to be noted that the door 8, which is pivotally mounted on conventional hinges, one of which is disclosed at 81, will thus pivotally move about a different center than the axis of the shaft 24, the radial path of the outer edge of the flange 8 being indicated by the dotted lines 88 in Fig. 3 while the radial path of the outer end or edge of the shelf 28 is indicated by the dotted lines 89 in Fig. 3, the door 8 being indicated in its open position in Fig. 3 by the dotted lines 18 while the shelf 28 is indicated in a position to which it has been pivotally moved, by the dotted lines H in Fig. 3.

Due to the door 8 and the swinging shelves moving about different axes, the opening 41 is necessarily provided with an elongated shape so that the cam-like surface 68 on the end 58 of the lever 5| will slidably engage the rod or frame member 25 adjacent the opening 41 during the relative movements of the door 8 and the shelf 28.

It is here again to be noted that whereas the cam-like surface 88 will tend to hold the rod or frame member 25 adjacent the opening 41 of the shelf 28 against the wall portion 54 to prevent rattling and relative movement between the shelf 28 and the door 8 at the same time the spring 59 will allow the latch 5I to be resiliently maintained in engagement with the rod or frame member 25 adjacent the opening 41 so as to allow the slidable engagement between the shelf 28 and the door 8 without development of excessive friction.

It will be noted that my invention will provide for the saving of a considerable amount of time in placing articles or removing articles from shelf mechanism within the refrigerator mechanism assembly such as A.

It is also to be noted that the refrigerator assembly A is provided with the top or cover portion 45 together with the leg or feet members 46 for supporting the refrigerator mechanism assembly A on the floor or similar supporting surface.

It is also to be noted and understood that my invention may be used with shelves having a depth sufficient to extend substantially for the full depth of a refrigerator chamber such as I if it is desired to eliminate the use of any or a portion of the fixed shelves at the rear portion of the refrigerated space, chamber or compartment I without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

In operation the latch H is rotatably or pivotally moved on the journal portion 52 of the stud 58 from the position as indicated by the full lines in Fig. 7 to the position as indicated by the dotted lines 12 in Fig. 7, and in said position the end 58 of the latch 5I will have been moved into the opening 41 and its cam-like surface 68 will be in contact with the rod or frame member 25 adjacent the opening 41 of the shelf 28, thus securing the shelf 28 against the inner surface of the door 8. The swinging movement of the door 8 will cause the shelf 23 together with the shelves 28, 2| and 22 and the shaft 24 to swing or pivotally move in the brackets 88 and 84 in accordance with the movement of the door 8 and when the door 8 has been moved to its closed position as indicated in Fig. 3, the shelves 28, 2|, 22 and 23 will be positioned by the positioning mechanism comprising the lug 38 which engages the grooves 81 of the bracket 38 in positions adjacent the fixed shelves I2, I3, I4 and I5, the opening movement of the door 8 thus providing for the positioning of the shelves 28, 2I, 22 and 28 as disclosed in Fig. 2 where they will be accessible from each of the three sides as well as moving saidswinging shelves out of the way so that greater and more ready accessibility is provided for placing or removing articles to and from the fixed shelves I2, I8, I4 and I5.

When it is desired to unlock and disassociate the swinging shelves from the movement of the door 8, the latch member 5I will be rotatably or pivotally moved to the position disclosed by the full lines in Fig. '7 in which the end 58 of the latch 5| has been moved out of the opening 41 and from engagement with the rod or frame member 25 adjacent the opening 41, thus permitting the shelves 28, H, 22 and 23 to be manually swung or pivotally moved by the operator, as desired, to any desired position between the door 8 and the positions at the inner end of the swinging or pivotal movement of the shelves 28, 2I, 22 and 28 as disclosed in Fig. 1.

It is to be noted that the shelves 28, 2|, 22 and 23 together with the articles supported thereon will be movably supported by the washer or shoulder 21 engaging the surface 28A and due to the positioning member or collar 38 being mounted slidably upon the lower portion of the shaft 24 and engaging the portions 31 of the boss 29, said shaft 24 and its supported portions will not have to be raised and lowered during. the positioning operation however as the force imposed manually or by the operation of the door 8 on the shelves 28, M, 22 and 23 to cause them to swing about the axis of the shaft 24 will only be required in suflicient amounts to overcome the frictional resistance of the shaft 24 in its supporting members and to compress the spring 42 sufficiently to allow the collar 88 to be forced out of its positioning or engagement position with the boss 28 of the bracket 88.

What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerator mechanism comprising a cabinet having a refrigerated space provided with fixed shelves supported in the refrigerated space together with a pivotally mounted door for closing an open side of the cabinet, the combination of a pair of brackets supported by the cabinet, one of said brackets being provided with positioning portions, a shaft rotatably supported in said pair of brackets, a collar slidably mounted on said shaft and provided with positioning portions adapted to engage the positioning portions of said bracket, means for preventing said collar from rotating on said shaft, resilient means for urging said collar toward said bracket and to cause said positioning portions to engage one another, a plurality of shelves rigidly supported on said shaft and adapted to extend adjacent the fixed shelves of the cabinet when said positioning portions are engaging one another, one of said plurality of shelves rigidly supported on said shaft being provided with an opening adapted to receive a latch member therein for engaging a portion of said one of said plurality of shelves, a latch member rotatably supported on the door of the cabinet and adapted to enter said opening and to engage said portion of said one of said plurality of shelves and to connect said plurality of shelves with the door, the pivotal movement of the door causing said shaft together with said plurality of shelves to pivotally move with the door, and resiliently actuated means for positioning said latch member in a plurality of positions relative to said opening of said one of said plurality of shelves.

2. In a refrigerator mechanism provided with a refrigerated space, the combination of fixed shelves supported in the refrigerated space, and movably supported shelves adapted to bepivotally moved to and from said fixed shelves, said movably supported shelves having their supporting surfaces adapted to cooperate with the sup porting surfaces of said fixed shelves to enable articles to be jointly supported by said fixed and said movably supported shelves.

3. In a refrigerator mechanism provided with a refrigerated space, the combination of a fixed shelf in the refrigerated space and having a cut away portion, and a second shelf movably mounted and adapted to be moved to and from a position adjacent the cut away portion of said fixed shelf, said fixed shelf and said second shelf having supporting surfaces located in a common plane to permit articles to be jointly supported on said fixed and said second shelves.

4. In a refrigerator mechanism provided with a refrigerated. space, the combination of a fixed shelf in the refrigerated space. a second shelf movably mounted to swing in the' plane in which said fixed shelf is located, and means for positioning said second shelf adjacent said fixed shelf in the refrigerated space, said second shelf being accessible on both its front and rear sides to permit accessibility thereacross to said fixed shelf in the refrigerated space.

5. In a refrigerator'mechanism, the combination of a vertical shaft adapted for movement, a plurality of spaced shelves rigidly supported on said vertical shaft, a pair of brackets supporting said vertical shaft, one of said pair of brackets being provided with a groove, a collar movably mounted on said vertical shaft and having a lug for engaging said groove to position said plurality of spaced shelves, resilient means for'actuating said collar to cause said lug thereof to engage the groove of said bracket, and means for preventing said collar from turning on said vertical shaft.

6. In a refrigerator mechanism, provided with a shelf pivotally mounted and adapted to be engaged by a latch member, the combination of a door pivotally mounted, a stud mounted in said door and provided with positioning portions, a latch member pivotally and adjustably mounted on said stud and provided with portions engaging the positioning portions of said stud, said latch member being adapted to engage and fasten said shelf to said door, and resilient means mounted the refrigerated chamber, one of saidbracket members being provided with a groove, a shaft movably mounted in said bracket members, a shelf rigidly supported on said shaft, a collar movably mounted axially on said shaft and adapted to turn therewith, said shaft being provided with a portion'for engaging the groove of said bracket member, and means tending to urge said collar to engage said bracket member.

8. In a refrigerator mechanism provided with a refrigerated chamber having an ice tray unit therein, the combination of a fixed shelf extending between said ice tray unit and a wall of said refrigerated chamber, a shelf mechanism pivotally mounted on the refrigerator mechanism and comprising a second shelf extending longitudinally adjacent said fixed shelf, said second shelf having itsend adjacent the ice tray unit, and a door pivotally mounted on the refrigerator mechanism and extending adjacent the outer side of said second shelf.

9. In a refrigerator mechanism provided with a refrigerated chamber having an ice tray unit therein, the combination of a fixed shelf extending between said ice tray unit and a wall of said refrigerated chamber, a second fixed shelf extending substantially across the total width of the refrigerated chamber, a shelf mechanism pivotally mounted on the refrigerator mechanism and comprising a third shelf extending longitudinally adjacent said first mentioned fixed shelf, said third shelf having its end adjacent the ice tray unit, said shelf mechanism further comprising a. fourth shelf extending longitudinally adjacent said second fixed shelf and substantially across the total width of the refrigerated chamher, and a door pivotally mounted on the refrigorator mechanism and extending adjacent the outer side of said third and said fourth shelves.

10. In a refrigerator mechanism, the combination of a shaft adapted for movement, a shelf comprising a frame member extending to form a collar portion extending around said shaft, means for securing said collar portion of said shelf to said shaft, bracket members supporting said shaft, one of said bracket members being provided with a groove, a collar member movably'mounted on said vertical shaft and having a lug portion for engaging said groove to position said shelf, resilient means for actuating said collar to cause said lug thereof to engage said groove of said bracket, and means for preventing said collar from turning on said shaft.

11. In a refrigerator mechanism provided with a refrigerator compartment, the combination of shelves supported in said refrigerator compartment, a second shelf, in the plane of and in front of one of said first named shelves, and pivot means supporting said second shelf to permit said second shelf to be pivotally moved to and from the one of said first named shelves in its plane, the space adjacent said second shelf being open at the rear and front sides of said second shelf immediately above and below the support surface thereof to permit access to one or more of said first mentioned shelves across said second shelf when said second shelf is adjacent said first mentioned shelves.

12. In a refrigerator mechanism provided with a refrigerator space, the combination of a shelf member mounted in said refrigerator space and provided with a supporting surface, a second shelf member having a supporting surface located substantially in the same plane as the supporting surface of said first mentioned shelf member, the support space above said second shelf member being open and clear to permit a person to reach across said second shelf member from its front side to its rear side and to said first mentioned shelf member to place or remove articles on or from said first mentioned shelf member, and pivotally mounted means for moving said second shelf member to and from said first mentioned shelf member.

13. In a refrigerator mechanism provided with a refrigerated space, together with a door therefor, the combination of a plurality of fixed shelves spaced in horizontal planes in said refrigerated space, to provide support spaces open at their front sides, and a plurality of shelves movably mounted to swing in horizontal planes to and from said plurality of fixed shelves and to and from said door, said last mentioned plurality of shelves providing support spaces thereadjacent and open for the depths of said last mentioned plurality of shelves to enable a person to reach across or through said last mentioned plurality of shelves to place or remove articles on or from said first mentioned plurality of fixed shelves.

14. In a refrigerator mechanism provided with a refrigerated chamber having wall portions having an opening providing access to said refrigerated chamber, said refrigerated chamber being further provided with a support surface for objects to be positioned in said refrigerated chamber, the combination of a door pivotally supported adjacent and adapted to close said opening of said refrigerated chamber, a shelf pivotally supported adjacent said opening of said refrigerated space, and adjacent said support surface of said refrigerated chamber, said shelf being solely supported by its pivot means out of engagement with said support surface when said door is in either its open or closed position relative to said opening of said refrigerated chamber and whether connected or disconnected relative to said door. said shelf being provided with a space adjacent and extending across itself to permit a person to reach past said shelf to that portion of said refrigerated chamber back of said shelf, and means utilized solely for connecting said shelf with said door to cause said shelf and said door to pivotally move together.

55 15. In a refrigerator mechanism provided with a refrigerated chamber having walls together with a shelf member supported therein, the combination of a door for said refrigerated chamber, a second shelf member provided'with apertures extending therethrough to permit a person to reach through said apertures to the rear of said refrigerated chamber, pivot means supported by said walls of said refrigerated chamber and pivotally supporting said second shelf member out of engagement with said walls and said first mentioned shelf member when said door is in open or closed position and when said shelf is connected or disconnected relative to said door, and means solely utilized for connecting said shelf and said door to enable said shelf and said door to pivotally move together as a unit.

16. In a refrigerator provided with a refrigerated space, the combination of a door movably supported adjacent one side of said refrigerated space, and a plurality of shelves pivotally supported to swing clear of said door while supported solely by its pivot means, said plurality of shelves having spaces therebetween, said spaces being clear for the total width of said shelves to permit the operator to reach across one of said shelves to place or remove articles from the refrigerated space behind said shelf or shelves.

17. In a refrigerator mechanism provided with a refrigerated chamber having an ice tray means therein together with a receptacle below said ice tray means, the combination of a shelf munt ed in said refrigerated chamber and supporting said receptacle, said shelf having a portion of itself cut away to provide a space for receiving a shelf means therein, a shelf means having an unobstructed substantially fiat top pivotally mounted on the refrigerator mechanism and adapted to swing in the plane of saidshelf into and out of said space, and a door pivotally mounted on said refrigerator mechanism and extending adjacent the outer side of said shelf supporting said receptacle and the outer side of said shelf means.

18. In a refrigerator mechanism, the combination of a door pivotally mounted, a latch member adjustably mounted on the inside of said door positioned adjacent the inside surface of said door for positioning said latch member in adjusted positions, and a shelf entirely supported by a vertical pivot fixed to the body of the refrigerator and extending adjacent the inside surface of said door, said shelf being adapted to be engaged by said latch member to connect said shelf and said door together to permit said shelf to be pivotally moved by movement of said door.

CHARLES C. SPREEN. 

